iGaming Weekly Recap (July 28 – August 3, 2025): New Jersey Considers Micro-Betting Ban
New Jersey is contemplating a ban on micro-betting, while the giant VGW is withdrawing its sweepstakes from the state. The vote on Brian Quintenz’s nomination as CFTC chair has been delayed again, though the White House continues to emphasize support for his candidacy. What else happened in the industry last week? Check out our Weekly Recap!
New Jersey has introduced legislation (A5971) aimed at banning “micro-betting” in sports games, which refers to live bets on the outcome of the next action or play in a sporting event, such as the next pitch in baseball or the next play in football. Sponsored by Democratic Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, the bill is part of a broader tightening of state regulations and seeks to curb addictive gambling behaviors and protect sports from potential manipulation. Hutchison argues that this type of betting “is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think,” creating a “dangerous cycle.”
BetMGM reported robust financial performance in Q2 2025, with a 36% year-over-year revenue increase to $692 million. The company’s EBITDA profit also saw significant growth, reaching $86 million, a $78 million improvement compared to the same period last year. The iGaming segment remains the primary revenue driver, posting a 29% increase to $449 million, fueled by exclusive content and enhanced player management strategies.
The online sports betting division also showed substantial revenue growth of 56% to $228 million, attributed to an improved product offering and expanded parlay capabilities. Additionally, total betting handle rose 25% to $3.43 billion, and the average monthly active user base grew 7% to 901,000.
Prime Sportsbook officially launched its online operations in Kentucky on July 28 at 1:00 PM ET, becoming the ninth operator in the state. Having entered Ohio in September 2023 and New Jersey a year later, the company strategically expands into Kentucky through a partnership with Churchill Downs to ensure full Cincinnati market coverage. Prime Sportsbook’s entry is a significant event in the sports betting industry. Positioning itself as an alternative to major operators, Prime Sportsbook adopts a pro-bettor philosophy, targeting “sharp” (experienced, professional) players.
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), a giant in the social gaming industry, is withdrawing its popular sweepstakes-based casino games from New Jersey. This decision is a proactive response to new state legislation, Assembly Bill A5447, which effectively bans this controversial gaming model and takes effect on August 14.
VGW has begun a phased withdrawal of its “Promotional Play” model, which underpins its brands Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker. Starting July 29, New Jersey players can no longer purchase Sweeps Coins (virtual currency redeemable for cash prizes). From August 26, VGW will cease accepting Sweeps Coins for gameplay, and the final deadline to redeem existing Sweeps Coins is September 24. After this date, sweepstakes functionality will be fully disabled in the state.
The Senate vote on the controversial nomination of Brian Quintenz as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been delayed for a second time, this time at the direct request of the White House. Despite the delay and speculation, including reports of intervention by cryptocurrency billionaire Tyler Winklevoss, the Trump administration reaffirmed strong support for Quintenz, explicitly tying his confirmation to ambitions of making America the “cryptocurrency capital of the world.”
Recommended